Photo Credits: FNG’s Rob Windfelder
The Flyers win 4th game in a row since All Star break. The Arizona Coyotes rolled into town at “hockey 500” 23-23-4. The hosting Flyers were 28-19-6 and soundly in 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division. Samuel Ersson was back in the net and Tyson Foerster had the night off due to being a little banged up.
Philly vs Arizona
Right from the opening faceoff the 1st period was all Flyers. They were doing everything right except finishing. They were getting chances but were at a loss for quality shots on net. The Coyotes did not get their second shot on goal until a solid ten minutes into the game, and that was a dump in from their own blue line.
The Flyers were running the show when Matt Dumba beat Ersson with a slapper from the point with just 3:34 remaining in the opening period. Shots were tied at seven but the Coyotes were taking a lead into the first intermission. If you counted the Flyers wiffed, wide, and blocked shots it would paint you a more accurate picture of how the period actually went.
The Flyers appeared to get on the board right away in the 2nd period. Ryan Poehling made a nice keep at the Arizona blue line. Poehling passed to Konecny. Konecny threw it to York who sent it home. Arizona called for a coaches challenge. After review Poehling’s keep was not a keep after all and the play was determined to be offsides.
Morgan Frost
This was a fantastic game for Morgan Frost who was highly visible all night long. He was all over the ice doing all the right things. His skating and stick work looked better than ever. He was breaking the puck into the zone, forechecking, back checking, hitting, and just making things happen. The Coyotes could not figure out how to contain him legally. He was a penalty drawing machine.
At 4:23 into the 2nd he was pulled down while splitting the defense on a rush. He was awarded a penalty shot. He skated the puck to the far left side of the ice and then really slowed things down. He skated across left to right and faked the shot twice almost taunting Vejmelka before ripping it low blocker side to tie the game at one.
Matias Maccelli scored an unfortunate but tricky goal on Ersson at 7:57. Ersson anticipated the initial shot and kicked the rebound to the side of the net. Maccelli faked taking the puck behind the net for a wrap around. Ersson left the post to meet him at the other side of the net but he doubled back and banked the puck off of Ersson when he left the post.
T.K. still red hot
Less than two minutes after Arizona took the lead the Flyers struck back to tie things up again. Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny were skating into the Yotes zone two on one. Laughton made a circle to circle cross ice pass and Konecny tapped it home for his 25th goal of the season.
Before the 2nd period ended Arizona would again take the lead. Somehow Alex Kerfoot was left wide open all alone in the slot and they Flyers paid for the lack of coverage.
The Flyers chances were piling up but the Coyotes were taking the lead into intermission with them again. Philadelphia had many opportunities to fire the kill shot but they weren’t showing a whole lot of urgency. They were playing almost like they were the team protecting the lead.
Shoot the puck
If things continued on the path they were on the Flyers stood a pretty good chance of letting this one slip away. They were clearly the better team in this game but somehow they were in the final period still down by a goal. Sometimes you just gotta shoot at the net and see what happens. Travis Konecny hit Jamie Drysdale with a pass. Drysdale stepped in and fired the puck. It appeared to hit a skate and beat Yotes netminder Karel Vejmelka tying the game yet again.
Next, Scott Laughton scored on a wrap around after a strong individual effort. He was getting guided to the side of the net as he broke deep into the offensive zone. Running out of room he skated behind the net and wrapped the puck around tucking it far side. He took a high stick to the face for his trouble. It was a gritty Scott Laughton type of goal. Owen Tippett hit the empty net with just seconds to go and the Flyers won their 4th game in a row by the final score of 5 to 3.
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Cool Matvei Michkov merchandise
That ends a very successful homestand for the Orange and Black. Going into the break the Flyers had lost five in a row as the pack creeped in on their spot in the standings. Carter Hart took his leave of absence and everything looked like it might be coming apart at the seams. Once again this team is overcoming adversity under John Tortorella who demands that they do so without making excuses. These mid-season games are so important. None of these opportunities to pick up a couple points can be overlooked.
